Brian Orakpo Headed To The Pro Bowl

The NFL announced today that linebacker Brian Orakpo has been selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl in place of San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks.

The National Football League announced today that linebacker Brian Orakpo has been selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl in place of San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks.

The annual contest of the NFL's best will take place Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

The selection is the third of Orakpo’s career, including selections in his first two NFL seasons following the 2009 and 2010 campaigns. He joins running back Alfred Morris and tackle Trent Williams as the team’s Pro Bowl representatives for the 2013 season.

With Orakpo’s selection, the Redskins have had at least one linebacker selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons, matching the team’s longest stretch since linebacker Chris Hanburger accounted for five consecutive selections from 1972-76.

Orakpo, 27, started all 15 games in which he appeared in 2013, being credited by the coaching staff with 70 tackles (47 solo) and recording 10.0 sacks.

The double-digit sacks were Orakpo’s most in a season since setting a Redskins rookie record with 11.0 sacks in 2009. Orakpo’s 10-sack season gave him 39.5 for his career, fifth-most in team history.

The Houston native also recorded the first interception and first touchdown of his career in Week 7 vs. Chicago, returning an interception 29 yards for a score.

The interception was the first of Orakpo’s life at any level.

With the Redskins’ selections of Morris, Orakpo and Williams this year, the team has had at least one Pro Bowl player for 20 straight seasons.

The only year Washington has not had a Pro Bowler in team history was 1993.